Put down the tiny gumdrops and piping bags full of frosting! No need to make your own gingerbread house this year, the Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C. is turning a Christmas fantasy into a reality by unveiling a life-size gingerbread house right in its lobby. You read that right: Over the course of three weeks, a team of five pastry chefs used 560 bricks of gingerbread and 35 pounds of frosting to turn one of their event spaces into a real-life casa of Christmas confections. Opened last night, the space will be a boutique by day—selling christmas treats, candies, and pastries to guests and visitors alike—and by night it becomes a holiday-themed private dining room with festive dishes from the hotel's chef. The single table seats up to six people, and the menu includes something called a chocolate and gingerbread mousse bar with caramelized apples and candy-cane ice cream. Count us in! Now just remember not to start eating the walls…

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